Ocellus
/oʊˈsɛləs/noun
A small eye or eye-like structure, especially one of the simple eyes found in insects and other animals.
Did you know?Insects with ocelli can detect changes in light and darkness, but these simple eyes usually cannot form detailed images.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃ekʷ-
“Eye; to see”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ṓps (ὤψ)
“Eye; face; appearance”
Classical Latin
Latin
oculus
“Eye”
Classical Latin
Latin
ocellus
“Little eye; diminutive of oculus”
17th Century
New Latin
ocellus
“A small eye-like marking or structure in zoological description”
Modern English
English
ocellus
“A simple eye in an insect or an eye-like spot or marking”